Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-12-23


Uncle Coles mule and his tricks were
well known in the community. The old
negro seemed to consider himself and
his team q veritable circus show, and
rather gloried in the antics of his "crit-
ter" never sure himself what trick the
animal had under consideration when he
tackled him to his vegetable-cart.
Dat ar muel's de debil," said Aunt
Katie, still laughing, as she went toward
her cabin followed by Ida, who chuckled
and shivered at the word that to her SIM
pie mind meant averitable demon, hoOfs,
horns, and all.
Miss Ky told Miss Joe all about he"
said Ida, OBTAINING her grandmother
steps by clutching at her faded calico
skirt.
"Wha' yo' mean, chile? An if yo'
don call Miss Car'line by her proper
name, I'll smack yo'."
Laws! she dom car" returned the
girl. 'I's alleys called her Miss KY.
She tole Miss Joe. last night, dat dat az
muel am q sperit?'
"A sperit! GAL yo's crazyl" CALCULATED
her grandmother, her voice expressive Of
horror and incredulity.
mo | isn't-dat ar muel am speritr
the girl answered, resolutely. "Dar
wOr an ole mannheim powerful wicked
what dled years ago. on de Cedar Belt
plantation, when ole Uncle Cole wor a
boy, N he say wild hes dyin' bref: rs
comm back to ha'nt folks; n eff yo' sees
a strange muel, all white but de j'ints OF
his 70 legs, N lame in de right him leg,
come inter de stable, like he knowed the
place, dat'll be me- An after he'd gone
,ln@ Il 10 ~
a-kicllin' an a-ragil' N a-tryin' to sw' ar,
only he couldn't. An de ole man wor
lame in he right leg, n dat ar muel hem
lame in he right leg, n alleys wor, so
Uncle Cole say; n Uncle Cole he's de
on'y man on de hull plantashun dar's to
ride him; n de ole man-de wicked ole
mamie liked Uncle Cole when he wor
boy, N dat ar muel is mo- dan hun
dered n sixty var ole-Uncle Cole tole
me So"
See here, gal, yo's bin dreamin'," re-
piled Aunt Katie, the whites of her eyes
showing all round.
''No, l hasn't; Miss Car'line tole Miss
Joe, n l wor at de winder, N Miss Car
line say her par dom want de story git
roun' 'mong de hands, and dey'd never
lowed Uncle Cole to tell it; but she say
it wor true as de Gospel"
''Lawd keep n and presarve usr' said
Aunt Katie; IN don yo' tell Josephus
Kiaphus or Misery Ann Eff yo' do, dar
won't be no ivin' wild um. A sperit! de
Lawd save US! wonder s Uncle Cole
dar' to ride him!'
Didn't yo' nebber h'ar him say dat
dat ar muel sw'ars wild his him legs, aw-
ful?"
Yes, | has; but how'd / know he wor
sperit? Is almos' feared de vegetables
is possessed; n de poke gifts OBJ him jes
frlbbles away to nowhar-and mussiful
Heben!" she cried, u moment afterward,
her round face ei0ngating, "mebby OATS
what ails Sam. Lawd hev graciousness
towards usl hev mussiful heartiness oher
us, oh my Lawd, in dis de time of my
'fliction!'
Il don't see nothin' so dretful de mat
ter wild grandad," said Ida, as they near
ed the cabin, where two little blacks were
busy shaping big sailboat
"Chile, he def rent from hese'f. a-gwine
about in dat ole pungy for de Lawd
knows what, n stayin' out nights, m
gittin' dat .. good-for-naugnU Ben TO 90
he hoein', which properly are his. Dom
talk to me, gal, Is worried n mis'able,
what wild his talkin' in he sleep, N grin
min bout nothin', n rubin his hands.
tell yo' hem teched in de brain-ef
hem got One-talkin' bout findin' a
Christmas present in de woods fer Mars
CheS' ton, n actin all de time like a i'll
conditioned niger widout no fo'sight
VIVA does he hab in dem bundles he
warts away? Whar does he go to when
Na stays, n whar's he comm to? dom
ar tell nobuddy, Is so scarf. Oars
sOmetin' wrong a-brewin' in dat thick
skull ED his; yo' po' ole grandad's gwine
crazy. n dar amt no 'sylum harabouts,
n dey'l put him in cage. when the
truf comes OUT" and Aunt Katie. fright
ened at the scare-crow invented by her
own imagination, put her checked apron
to her eyes, and began to cry-till she
came upon the boys. My good Lawd,
dey's cut up my bes' linen apronr' and
the cuffs sounded right and left, TIL the
two culprits lay yelling on the ground.
Inside the cabin, the Oldest boy, a big
headed urchin of fifteen, and girl with
crooked spine and handy legs. sat
mending a fsh-net. The boy looked
suIIen, ana never turned up the whites
of his eyes as his mother and little Ida
entered. Aunt Katie knew, by some
subtle instinct. that something had gone
wrong. She stopped as she crossed me
threshold, with arms al1imbo.
You Kiaphus, has you been techin'
dat ar Christmas cake l made fer de cas-
ion?" she asked, looking furtively aside
at Misery nm.
80; l amt nuther," replied the boy,
- wiling at his sister. who kept on at her
work, though she looked scared.
Oars plenty will, when de time
comes:-'Tisn't often yo' gifts poun' to
poun', sugar, butter, n eberyt ing" said
Aunt Katie, shaking her head over the
remnants of her apron, as she went to-
ward the nook in the corner, which, di-
vided Oft by calico curtain, served as a
pantry.
"'Clar' to my soul, If never did seer
she cried in a shrill voice, as she darted
out OF the closet; ''dar'S no use me irwin
to dye n refriberate de ole clos. Is
made de stuff misses gin me fur to
brighten up all dem ar faded ribins n
sacks, for Christmas, n eff somebody
hain't gone an stole it. bowl n air.
Shouldn't a left it dar," growled Jo-
sephus Kiaphus. How'd l know but
'twar pisen: When ole Miss say she
want her blue chiny bowl, 1 he'd to git it,
didn't l? So Hinged de stuff outen de
winder.'
Yes, nanny" said Misery Ann. jerk
ing the thread she held, IAN it went
right onto"
You tell, now, n I'll Jest kill yo'y'
said the boy in n low, fierce voice.
Il know! l known cried one of the
smaller urchins. coming in on all fours.
" hath yo; gimme Ell won't ..,.'' -
added, looking up impishly at his elder
brother.
I'm choke We eff 20 do, now mind,
was the low reply.
Nanny" cried another small voice
from the door, ''he's hid it in de wood
Is seen him.
''Ef don't take it outen yo' hide!" ex-
claimed kiaphus, recklessly; and both
small boys turned aud fled as the fishing
net was thrown savagely on the floor
and the big boy sprang after them.
Aunt Katie had turned fromone to the
other during this stormy colloquy; now
she made gesture strongly expressive
of despair and general giving way OF
mind and body, as she said:
Misery Ann, what's de trouble, ne
how?'